Proverbs 25

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (v11).  In our rapid-communication world where powerful people destroy themselves by thoughtless “tweets”, emails, and texts, the proverbs provide refreshing sanity.  “Do not go out hastily to argue your case” (v8), they warn, because after all the facts come out, you may regret what you have said and have no way to repair the damage (v8-10).  Angry, malicious words are like “clubs and swords and arrows” (v18).

James also encourages us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,” people of peace rather than discord (James 1:19).